Welcome to the Year of the Fern

" — the ferns of various species and in various stages, some now in their most perfect and beautiful condition, completely unfolded, tender and delicate, but perfect in all their details, far more than any lace work — the most elaborate leaf we have." From the Journal of Henry David Thoreau, 1853, quoted in Thoreau's Garden by Peter Loewer, StellaRosaBooks 1996.

Please Join Our Circle of Fronds!

In 2011, between the unfurling of the first fiddlehead and the time the snow flies, we MNPS members challenged ourselves to learn the ferns of Maryland. We had some fun and educational field trips and programs planned to help us all increase our knowledge and appreciation of the native ferns of Maryland, their habits and their habitats.You can use these helpful resources: